5th July. 150 k south of Derby WA

It's been very quiet since my last update. We have been Free Campimg, no electricity, no water, we have had a toilet and garbage bins at each stop and have met nice people. Like today when the couple pulled in beside us who we had chatted to 2 days ago. Often cows wander around us but have only seen one or two kangaroo. It's sad to see dead cows on the road side that have been killed during the night. It's foolish to drive after dark.

Our stop at Mary Pool was good, huge area on the banks of what is the Mary River but at this time of year it only puddles. It's quite easy to imagine the mighty flood of water over the concrete ford that we had to cross because it's in pretty rough shape and the bushes are all leaning one way....down stream!

I didn't jump, couldn't make a splash on rocks!

the most water we could see from the crossing. The camp site is to the right and the garbage bins are on the highway to the left. There were always people walking back & forth across the ford with their garbage. There would have been about 100 vans there over night.

We are at a very clean site today, the paths are paved so we are not in 5cm of powered dust. It was even worth washing the floor! Liz, you would hate it, hands and knees 2 or 3 times a day! Just teasing.

The sunsets have been magnificent.

Last night we had a young family next to us, with 2 boys. Father is Seventh Day Adventist Pastor from Broome. The family getting tea before darkness at 5.30. It makes for a long evening.

I won at Yhatzee last night, Brian tonight. Into a caravan park tomorrow in Derby so we will have TV. We have been following the Election on our iPads......need TV!

2ndJuly. The Great Northern Highway

Let me talk about yesterday first.

Chores done, now pleasure, sightseeing. We had heard about Sandalwood trees but knew nothing about the industry. We had actually seen them but didn't know what they were. They are such a beautiful green a neat tree.

Went to the Sandalwood Cafe/information centre, watched an 8 min film and saw the beautiful cosmetics & souvenirs. The trees take 14 years to mature then the process of getting the oil has various methods of extraction. This area uses water because it's available, irrigation everywhere, the Ord river that created Lake Argyle is the supplier. I'm cross with myself for not buying Sandalwood body lotion, it was beautiful. A dab on my hands lasted for hours and felt so soft. Sandalwood export is one of the main industries up here & prices continue to rise. Good for employment also as there is continual planting.

Next stop was the Ivanhoe River Crossing. It was spectacular. No way was Brian driving his pristine IZUSU through that river......it has saltwater crocodile in it. It was 'Drive at your own risk'. We were very happy to watch others do it. There were more spectators then daring drivers.

Back home, quietly reading & drinking coffee when I remembered it was time to get our monthly pills, off into town. The Pharmacy was so busy it took 1/2 hr, then home again to pack for early departure tomorrow (today) then more importantly, for Brian to catch the shuttle bus in to watch Richmond......(lose.....again!!!) The only consolation was Melbourne Storm won.

Up at 6am & on the road 7.15 for 220k to a free camp. We know to be early to pick a good sight, level ground, face south, not tooooo far from the toilet, then watch everyone else circle around looking for their site. This is by the 'dry' portion of the Ord River and we even had visitors wander through this evening.

It has been a very nice day, not so hot and a lovely breeze.

Jocelyn, Mark, Sheena & Roy have flown up to Coffs Harbour for 5 day in our Accor Hotel (using our points because we couldn't fit it in this year. (This travelling is taking all our time!!.....how sad 😪😰) Jamie has sent a message to Brian, 'Come home, I need you to work' He's looking into a flight to bring him back home......HaHa!

Tomorrow another early start to choose another free site in another park. 

1st July. Hair cut!

Results of last nights hair cut.

Lisa, a young lady from Germany, travelling on her own around Australia with a tent came about 6pm and did a wonderful job. I need short for heat, wind and hat!

Yesterday Lisa got a job on a farm picking vegetables & was being picked up at the park entrance at 5.30am! I wish her every success as she is willing to do anything and has her full qualification to fall back on her hairdressing. She is beautiful as well.

30th June. Kununurra

Temperature 32% 2.30pm WA time, 4.30pm Melbourne 10%!

We know why we came north for the Winter!

Yesterday we had another wonderful day and did exciting things. We left at 8am, car only because the caravan is not suitable for this excursion. It's too big & too low, not an 'off-roader'

We were heading for the Gibb River Road. It's 55k to the beginning of this famous road and then we went about 200 in it towards the west. It is mostly dirt and is not passable during the Wet season unless you have a very special vehicle. There were so many signs that say 'Floodway' so it was very up & down and even had to cross the Penticost River (I got Brian to let me out, then he went back and recrossed it, so I could photograph it.) the next vehicle asked me if I was sure he would come back for me?????

This is the one that would have rescued me!

The mark on the doors is the depth. I loved it, because I knew it was safe. We went to Home Velley Station just to have a look/see, all types of accommodation available & naturally very expensive. Impressive gates.

Beautiful grounds, a tourist hot spot

A donkey or was it me that was the Ass?

The roads were not to bad, there is a lot of traffic in the dry season

Rocks and mountains that appear to be wearing crowns.

Then in the sun they turn red

The formations are amazing 

We also went into El Questro Ranch/Resort/Village & had 2 more water crossings. I love it & Brian takes it in his stride.

Tour buses go there from Kununurra and it's only about $240pp for the day!!!

Our lunch stop was on a lookout , but golly whiskers, it was hot. Yes,  Brian now has 'A Man Bag' needed it for the amount you carry everywhere.

All up, a truely wonderful day.

Today our car has been tenderly brought back to its correct condition, lovingly hand washed by Brian & equally lovingly cared for internally by me.......it needed it.

This evening I'm having a haircut by Lisa who advertised on the camp notice board. Results tomorrow.

28th June. Kununurra & Wyndham

We had a leisurely trip to Hidden Vally Caravan Park because we were requested not to arrive before 10am. This gave us time to reconnect to the world via Internet and phone. How quickly we have become reliant on instant communication, hate to be 'out of range'

We set up our caravan and took off for Wyndham, 100k north & is known for its live export of beef. It's an historical place, Sir Sid Kidman was one of the big names here and the Durack family are known names in Australia. It is mostly an Aboriginal town & it is quite unusual for them to talk to us but one man was very keen to show us the Crocodile and the write up about the making of it. He was just a school boy at the time back around 1980's

We drove out to the wharf & passed huge areas of what could be called mud flats. I asked the Aboriginal Policeman about it & found that 2 weeks ago they had a high tide, unusual for this time of year and the result was as if the whole area had been sprinkled with talc or snow......it was salt, a very fine layer.

We then drove to the lookout, what an amazing place, it has a view of 5 rivers going into the ocean......it was too big an area to see it all but the dial explained it.

Brian, on top of the world.

Over the edge to the wharf in the distance.

We also went to see a massive Boab tree at the caravan park

On our return trip we stopped at 2 cemeteries, one of early pioneers, men who died of heat at e meatworks before live export times & men building the roads etc. The other was the Afgan camel handlers cemetery who were vital in the very beginning of the white mans dealings in this port because the camels were the form of 'trucking' in that eara.

It was disappointing that it had not been kept up.

Sightseeing is hard work! Early to bed because tomorrow we are heading for a trip on the Gibb River Road. Car only, no towing for this trip.

27th June. Lake Argyle.

The variety of caravans on the road is awesome, after all there are approximately 20,000 of us on the road at any time.....but......this takes the 'cake'

Where on earth do they sleep???

Well I found out later.......in their black tinted window vehicle.

We did the right thing today, we spent the heat of the day on the water. 10.10am we caught the bus to the lake for the midday cruise

It was not a full load so we were easily able to move around.

Lake Argyle is the largest man made lake, holds 18 time the amount of water that is in Sydney harbour.  There is only 1 small dam that holds huge body of water it's only 335 metres long and was built of local material. The water supplies the towns around and is the sauce of irrigation for cropping, especially Sandlewood which fetches huge prices.. The Argyle Diamond mine is very near by which produces the Pink Diamond. Our cruise director said she hasn't found a boyfriend yet that can afford them!

The Ord River is the supply for the dam, and it has never used its 'spillway', there are some natural spillways also but none have ever been used. It only took 2 years to fill when it was expected to take 7 years.

We saw fresh water crocodiles, (some 'Stickodiles'.......things that look like the real crocodile) wallaby, a variety of wild life, and Pelican.

There were fishing boats, sail boats and naturally we only covered such a small area of the lake.

The 2 girls bother look about 21! Were qualified captains, they have wonderful patter as well as information and even BBQed fish caught in the lake for our wonderful lunch.

We had stopped for lunch, some even went for a swim 

Poisonous melons

The lake is so picturesque 

Yes were were actually there

We had to drop some passengers off at the dam to catch their boat on the opposite side to go down the Ord river to Kununurra. This gave us opportunity to see the 4 turbine power station at the base of the dam. If that water flow were to stop the river to Kununurra would be dry in 5 hours. Oh it's all so amazing and hard to comprehend.

Our drive over the dam & the power station 

Looking back down the Ord River from the dam.

Our last look at Lake Argyle 

What a marvellous day, we are so glad we took people's advise 'Don't miss Lake Argyle'

Tomorrow it's 'Hidden Valley Caravan Park' Kununarra.